Mark, 4

1. And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

1. Again Jesus began to teach by the lake, but such a large crowd gathered about him that he got into a boat and sat in it on the lake while the crowd stood on the shore.

2. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

2. He taught them many things through stories or parables. In his teaching he said,

3. Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

3. "Listen! The sower went out to sow.

4. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

4. As he sowed, some of the seed fell along a path and the birds came and ate it up.

5. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

5. Some of the seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil; it sprang up immediately because it had no depth;

6. But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

6. but when the sun rose and burned it, it withered because it had no roots.

7. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

7. Other seed fell among thornbushes and the thorns grew and choked it, so it didn't produce any grain.

8. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

8. But some seed fell on good soil, grew and increased and yielded grain; some produced thirty times as much, others sixty and others one hundred times as much."

9. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

9. And Jesus added, "Listen then, if you have ears."

10. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

10. When the crowd went away, some who were around him with the Twelve asked about the parables.

11. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all [these] things are done in parables:

11. He answered them, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But for those outside, everything comes in parables,

12. That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.

12. so that the more they see, they don't perceive; the more they hear, they don't understand; otherwise they would be converted and pardoned."

13. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

13. Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables?

14. The sower soweth the word.

14. What the sower is sowing is the word.

15. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

15. Those along the path where the seed fell are people who hear the word, but as soon as they do, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

16. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

16. Other people receive the word like rocky ground. As soon as they hear the word, they accept it with joy,

17. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

17. but they have no roots so it lasts only a little while. No sooner does trouble or persecution come because of the word, than they fall.

18. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

18. Others receive the seed as among thorns. After they hear the word,

19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

19. they are caught up in the worries of this life, false hopes of riches and other desires. All these come in and choke the word so that finally it produces nothing.

20. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive [it], and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

20. And there are others who receive the word as good soil. They hear the word, take it to heart and produce: some thirty, some sixty and some one hundred times as much."

21. And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

21. Jesus also said to them, "When the light comes, is it to be put under a tub or a bed? Surely it is put on a lampstand.

22. For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

22. Whatever is hidden will be disclosed, and whatever is kept secret will be brought to light.

23. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

23. Listen then, if you have ears!"

24. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

24. And he also said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear. In the measure you give, so shall you receive and still more will be given to you.

25. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

25. For the one who produces something, more will be given, and from him who does not produce anything, even what he has will be taken away from him."

26. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

26. Jesus also said, "In the kingdom of God it is like this. A man scatters seed upon the soil.

27. And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

27. Whether he is asleep or awake, be it day or night, the seed sprouts and grows, he knows not how.

28. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

28. The soil produces of itself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

29. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

29. And when it is ripe for harvesting he takes the sickle for the cutting: the time for harvest has come."

30. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

30. Jesus also said, "What is the kingdom of God like? To what shall we compare it?

31. [It is] like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

31. It is like a mustard seed which, when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the soil.

32. But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

32. But once sown, it grows up and becomes the largest of the plants in the garden and even grows branches so big that the birds of the air can take shelter in its shade."

33. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear [it].

33. Jesus used many such stories or parables, to proclaim the word to them in a way they would be able to understand.

34. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

34. He would not teach them without parables; but privately to his disciples he explained everything.

35. And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

35. On that same day when evening had come, Jesus said to them, "Let's go across to the other side."

36. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

36. So they left the crowd and took him away in the boat he had been sitting in, and other boats set out with him.

37. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

37. Then a storm gathered and it began to blow a gale. The waves spilled over into the boat so that it was soon filled with water.

38. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

38. And Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. They woke him up and said, "Master, don't you care if we sink?"

39. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

39. As Jesus awoke, he rebuked the wind and ordered the sea, "Quiet now! Be still!" The wind dropped and there was a great calm.

40. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

40. Then Jesus said to them, "Why are you so frightened? Do you still have no faith?"

41. And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

41. But they were terrified and they said to one another, "Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"